Snowshoes Are in Order

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Yesterday, I noticed my husband walking past the window on snowshoes while I was washing dishes. I asked him today what he was doing on them, and he said he put them on to walk the fish guts out to the weeds at the edge of our property.

I had been thinking about snowshoes for some time because cross country skiing takes quite a bit of skill. It's a lot harder than it looks. I've spent more time trying to get up than actually skiing, and I don't have the time to perfect my skills. Snowshoeing is something I should be able to handle. My husband said NOT! That, too, is harder than it looks. He said I would be able to follow someone, but breaking a trail would be quite another story.

I asked him why I hadn't seen him on snowshoes before. He said it's because he just tromped through the snow with his boots to deliver his fish guts for composting. But he can't do it any more. I asked him how deep the snow is out there. He indicated the snow to be halfway between his knees and his hips. Which translates to almost my waist. Which is when I told him that I've always thought about snowshoeing. He said we'll get me a pair if I want to. Glad for the support! They're not terribly expensive. He said his would require a fair amount of adjusting if I want to wear them.

So I may be adding snowshoeing to my activities. He asked why I want to snowshoe. I said XC skiing is harder, and I like walking, but want to get in the woods and forests. Good enough reasoning for him!

I've also been unable to take my food scraps out to be composted. This is the first year I have been unable to do it. The snow is so deep! They've been going into the trash can since some time in December at least. It bothers both of us organic gardeners to see so much potential fertilizer going into the trash. So kill a number of birds with one stone - that's holistic living. I'll be snowshoeing for utility and snowshoeing for beauty and fun.

Time for a Spark Tracker too. That will be put to good use! Again for utility and fun, as I integrate exercise with daily life.

What a totalling different world you live in to us here in West Australia. Snow shoeing sounds an excellent way to move around. it does sound fun and to be able to get back into the woods again would be a bonus.

It sounds like snowshoeing IS a lot like XC skiing! It's amazing the planning you have to put into getting up when you fall with your skis on. It makes walking look so much easier! I can see you understand, and appreciate the help and advice. Knowing I will have to plan my steps makes me realistic before I try. People who've never lived in cold climates might be surprised at what we go through!

Ah, snowshoes! There are a number of different styles, I'm sure you can find one that works well for you. I have limited experience on them, but there are a few tricks. 1) You don't back up on snowshoes, so think before you put your feet somewhere. 2) There are 'tails' on most snowshoes, the long thin part that goes behind you. (If you wove your own snowshoes, they'd be the two ends of the branch you bent to make the snowshoes.) You don't want to walk on the other tail, or you won't be able to move the foot, causing you to trip.

We made snowshoes and had snowshoe races for the kids one year, it really wasn't bad once you got the hang of it. Not stepping on the other snowshoe was the main problem I had, that and not planning ahead when I wanted to turn around. Once I learned to leave room for turns, and learned to walk carefully, it was easy.

I can see that breaking deep snow could be exhausting, but once DH has the track open, it sounds fun! Keep us posted.